Grate



June 6, 1933. J. s. THoMPsoN GRATE lFiled Aug. 19, 1930A lNvEN yR x/IS/Za/w" ATTORNEYS i Patented Janelle, 1933 was s.

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LTE STA-TES .i marron,foroLEvnLANn oHro, A3 CORPORATION on DELAWARE :This inventionrelates to gratebars ofthe y typeused` forheavy duty* purposes, such as in locomotives, boiler furnaces, and the like, and is concernedfmore.particularly with a grate bar which `includes a longitudinal member` or carrier'and aplurality of fuel-supportingunits extending beyond the lateral edges thereof. These units may be formed j integrally with'thecarrier but are preferably mountedlloosely thereon `and have a limited freedom of angular movement relative to the carrier.`

entirely of cast metal. While thisbar has proven highly .satisfactory in operation under severe conditions, it sometimes happens thatthe units become fracturedduring service, in whichevent thetwo parts of the unit fall free of the carrier bar, leaving an opening in the grate surface.

'The .present invention is accordingly directed tothe provision of a grate V.bar of the type described inwhichfthe units are .reining unitsin side elevation ;l

forced by simple `inexpensive means so that in the event of a fracture the two parts of the unit `are held together and `the `unit may be i'etainedin serviceindenitely. i

For a better understanding. ofthe inven-I tion, reference may be had to the accompanyringdrawing,inwhich n i Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional View of a grate bar constructedin accordancewith the inventionand showing one of the fuel-support- Figs. 2 and 3 are sectionalviews on the lines 2-2and3`3, respectively;v Fig. l isa fragmentary `s1de elevational view of a grate bar ofthe invention; and

l Fig. 5 "isa plan view ofa single unit.

Referring now tothe drawing, the grate bar in onefor1n`compr1ses a carrier which 1 may include a horizontal-`web`i10 provided with a strengthening rib 11 alongiits under surfaceiand having a downwardly extending "shaker arm-12 at an appropriate point.` `At `50 the ends of the carrier areupstandingarms top. j .l Mounted on the carrier between the arms Garmin Application `filed. August 19, 1930. Serial No. 476,262. l

18, provided with supporting means 14 which PATENT OFFI CE, l .i l

rnoiyrrsoi; or,` New ROCHELLE, New vonk, Assrenonro mennen corteo# y l may take the `form of trunnions when them` i bar is-to be mounted in al grate frame., EX- tending upwardly from the top of the web is a centering flangeil having `a rounded is a plurality of `fuel-supporting units, each of which consists of a plate 16 from one or both faces of which projects a row of spaced lugs 17, thesev lugs deiiningvertical air pas-A Sages 18 for upwardflow` of air tothe fuel bed. -At its top, each lug terminates in fuelv f l supporting projections 19 and preferably y these projections are arrangedin groups of four, two projections of `eachmgroup lying Y above the top of alug while the other two lie above the top of theplate adj acentto the lug. The projections of each group are separated by intersecting air channels 20 and 21, the lattercommunicating with the passages 18 between lugs 17. The projections? have flat fuel-supporting` topsand as these tops are of small area, excellent combustion is obtained j vby reason of the wide Vdistribution ofair to `the fuel which takesiplacke. `Preferably the pair of lugs at themiddle of the'roware made solidas indicatedat 221:0 strengthen the unit Y l at that point.

On the lower edgeljofthe plate thereis a` recess-23 havinga shape `generally similar `to the cross-sectionalshape of the carrier and near wthe open" end of 'the recesstheplate is provided with locking projections or lugs 24.

In the rocking of the grate bar, the -units have a limited degreeof angular `movement rela-` tive to the carrier and one or the other of thelocking lugs moves into engagement `with l, the under surface ofthe web 1Q to limit the relative movement and lock the` `units tothe l carrier. 5

Each unit isjprovided `with one onmo're1 strengthening or reinforcingmembersi251in# corporated theremin the casting of thefunit.` These reinforcing elements lie wholly within 3 theoutline of thekunit and the shapeof each f.

element is preferably closely similar=to 4the shape .ofthe unit;` The reinforcingfmaterial j l `which@prefer'toemploy is ashee'tlhaving a Vplurality ofopenings `or perforationstherein plate passing through the openings and anchoring the sheets in position. A reinforcing element of metal network such as expanded metal is satisfactory Vfor the purpose,

and preferably there are a plurality of reinforcing sheets within each unit. Y In the formation of the unit, the sheets cut to proper formare inserted in the mold in proper position and when the molten metal is poured into the mold, it iows through and around the sheets so that they become wholly embedded within the unit.

In the case of ordinary cast units, when cracking occurs in service, the fracture most frequently extends across the narrowest part of theunit near lits mid-point. With the new unit including the reinforcing material, such fractures are largely prevented, but if one occurred, it would not result in the two parts ofthe unit falli-ng from the carrierbar j since they reinforcingmaterial is'not subject toy cracking and would maintain the unit in its original condition. In a fractured unit, the reinforcing material is subjected to tension under the load of fuel carried by the unit but sheets of relatively light foraminous or' reticulated material provide suflicient strengtl'i to keep the parts of the unit together andv it may be continued in service for a considera-ble period before being replaced.

IVhat I claim: Y

l; A grate bar which comprises a longitudinal member and cross-bars mounted removably thereon and extending beyond the lateral edges thereof, each cross-bar including a platehaving spaced lugs projecting from at least one face thereof and extendingV downward from `the top of the plate `and a reticulated reinforcing element embedded within said plate, said element havingl substantially the same shape and area as said plate. Y Y

Q. A grate barwhich comprises a vlongitudinal member and cross-bars mounted removably thereon and extending beyond the lateral edges thereof, each cross-bar com prising a plate of cast metal supported on edgeby said member, said plate having a sheet of expanded metal embedded therein,

- said sheet having substantiallythe same k'shape and area as said plate. Y

' 3.` In a grate bar, a fuel-supporting yunit 'of cast metal and a reinforcing element ofk expanded metal embedded in saidv unit and having a shape and areasubstantiallythe same as. thatfof the unit, said element extending substantially to the boundariesfof said unit.

4L. In a grate bar, a fuel-supporting unit comprising` a plate having a row of spaced lugs projecting Aoutwardly along at least one face, and extending' verticallyy downward from the; top thereof, and a reinforcing ele- JAMES S. THOMPSON. 

